What is "endoscope"

Endoscope \En"do*scope\, n. [Endo- + -scope.] (Med.) An instrument for examining the interior of the body, consisting of a flexible tube with lenses and optical fibers permitting illumination of the interior site to be inspected, and visualization of the interior site from outside the body; it often has small surgical instruments attached to the end and manipulable from the outside, permitting biopsy or surgery. It is used as a non-invasive or minimally invasive tool for diagnosis or treatment, especially in organs having an external opening such as the rectum, the urethra, and the bladder.

n. an instrument used to examine a bodily orifice or canal, or a hollow organ

n. a long slender medical instrument for examining the interior of a bodily organ or performing minor surgery

An endoscope is an illuminated optical, typically slender and tubular instrument used to look deep into the body and used in procedures called an endoscopy. "Endo" is Greek for "within" while "scope" comes from the Greek word "skopos" meaning to target or look out. It is used to examine the internal organs like the throat or esophagus. Specialized instruments are named after their target organ. Examples includes cystoscope ( bladder), nephroscope ( kidney), bronchoscope ( bronchus), arthroscope ( joints) and colonoscope ( colon). It can be used to examine visually and diagnose, or assist in surgery such as an arthroscopy.